Plastic body and container attachment to end of can



March 21, 1967 w, WAGNER ET AL 3,310,195

PLASTIC BODY AND CONTAINER ATTACHMENT TO END OF CAN Filed Jan. 29, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l n v g INVENTORS EDWARD W. WAGNER @JOSEPH J. SENNELLO ATTORNEYS March 21, 1967 w, W N ET AL 3,310,195

PLASTIC BODY AND CONTAINER ATTACHMENT TO END OF CAN Filed Jan. 29, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS EDWARD W. LURGNEE. (C'JUOSEPH J. SENNELLO ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,310,195 PLASTIC BODY AND CONTAINER ATTACH- MENT TO END OF CAN Edward W. Wagner, Maywood, N.J., and Joseph J. Sennello, Oak Lawn, Ill., assignors to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 29, 1964, Ser. No. 340,967 9 Claims. (Cl. 22023.83)

This invention relates to plastic connectors and more particularly to various types of plastic connectors for attaching a plurality of containers together so as to form a multi-container package.

It is very desirable, or necessary, that the ingredients for many present day consumer products be marketed in separate containers so that the ultimate consumer receives the ingredients in an unmixed condition. Typical examples of such products are spaghetti sauce and grated cheese, hair wave solutions and neutralizers, desserts and sauces, cake mixes and prepared frostings, and the epoxy component and the hardener or cross-linking agent for modern adhesives. In order to provide maximum convenience for the consumer, such related products are preferably placed in separate containers which are then attached together to form a marketable package.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel and economically feasible device for connecting together a plurality of containers to form a package of related products.

Another object of this invention is to provide various types and forms of connectors for attaching together a plurality of containers to form a multi-container package.

Another object of this invention is to provide a multicontainer package comprising a first container and a second container, the first container including a container body having an annular seam or projection protruding from one end along the periphery thereof, the second container being removably connected to the first container by a flexible plastic connector which includes an annular wall disposed adjacent to and outwardly from the annular seam, and a locking rib formed on the annular wall and protruding inwardly therefrom and disposed for snap engagement with the annular seam to lock the connector and second container to the first container.

Another object of this invention is to provide a multicontainer package, of the type described above, wherein the second container includes an annular seam at one end thereof for supporting the second container on the first container, and the flexible plastic connector further including an inwardly directed wall portion disposed in overlying engagement with the annular seams of the first and second containers.

Another object of this invention is to provide a package, of the type described above, wherein the connector is provided with a central opening wall portion, and the second container includes a container body extending through the central opening.

Another object of this invention is to provide a package, as set forth above, wherein the plastic connector further includes an integral handle comprising a grip portion and a pair of legs, the legs being of sufficient length to space the grip portion from the second container to provide finger space between the grip portion and the second container.

Another object of this invention is to provide a package, of the type described above, wherein the first container includes an end wall which closes one end thereof, an annular bead formed in the end wall in spaced relation to the annular seam of the first container, and the ice second container being supported on the end wall between the annular seam and the annular bead.

Another object of this invention is to provide a package, of the type set forth above, wherein the connector includes a dome-shaped end wall which encloses the second container between the connector and the end wall of the first container.

A further object of this invention is to provide a package, of the type set forth above, wherein the connector is provided with an end wall which is formed integral with the annular wall and spaced from the locking rib, an internal wall for-med integral with the end wall and spaced inwardly from the annular wall, the internal wall and the end wall defining a commodity receiving compartment, and sealing means for sealing the compartment.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a package, of the type set forth above, wherein the sealing means comprises a plastic disk which is heat-sealable with the internal wall.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claimed subject matter and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of one form of multi-container package constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the flexible plastic connector used in the package which is illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarge-d vertical sectional view, taken on line 33 of FIGURE 1, and shows the manner in which the flexible plastic connector cooperates with a plurality of containers to form a unitary package.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention and shows the flexible plastic connector as being provided with a unitary handle structure.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, taken on line 55 of FIGURE 4, and illustrates the manner in which the connector embraces the double end seams of the two containers.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention wherein the flexible connector is dome-shaped to extend over and cover the smaller container.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, taken on line 77 of FIGURE 6, and illustrates the interior details of this form of package.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of another type of multi-container package.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary perspective view, with portions broken away to show the details thereof, and illustrates the plastic connector of FIGURE 8 as being constructed in the form of an overcap which is provided with a commodity receiving compartment.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, taken on line 10-10 of FIGURE 8, and shows the commodity receiving compartment of the connector as being sealed by a plastic disk which is secured to the lower surface of the compartment defining wall.

Referring to FIGURES 13 of the drawings, there is illustrated one embodiment of the present invention wherein a multi-container package, generally indicated by the numeral 10, is constructed by attaching a first container 11 to asecond container 12 by using a flexible plastic connector 13. The second container 12 is illustrated as being of the type which is die-shaped or drawn and is provided with an end wall 14 attached thereto by a conventional double seam 15. The first container 11 is preferably larger in diameter than the second container 12 and includes a tubular container body 16 having an end wall 17 connected thereto by a conventional double seam 18. The containers 11 and 12, while being illustrated as being conventional metal cans, may also be made from other materials, such as plastic or paperboard, and be provided with annular lips or projections in place of the double seams and 18.

As is shown in FIGURE 3, the first container 11 has an annular bead 19 formed in the end wall 17 in spaced relation to the double seam 18. Thus, the second container 12 is supported by its double seam 15 on the end wall 17 between the double seam 18 and the annular head 19.

The connector 13 is preferably made from a flexible plastic material, such as polyethylene or rubber, and includes an annular wall which is provided with a locking rib 26 which is formed on the annular wall and protrudes inwardly therefrom. As is best shown in FIG- URE 3, the locking rib 26 has a tapered inner surface 27 which provides for easy entry of the seam 18, after which the locking rib 26 snaps beneath the seam 18 to provide for a locking engagement between the connector 13 and the first container 11. The connector 13 is also provided with an inwardly directed wall portion 28 which is disposed in overlying engagement with the seams 15 and 18 so as to resiliently attach the second container 12 to the first container 11. The inwardly directed wall portion 28 includes an inner surface 30 which defines a central opening which is equal in diameter to the outside diameter of the second container 12 such that the container body of the second container 12 is disposed within the central opening.

FIGURES 4 and 5 show a modified form of package, generally indicated by the numeral 40, which package includes a first container 41 and a second container 42 attached together by a flexible plastic connector 43. The container 41 is similar to the container 11 and includes a tubular container body 44 and an end wall 45 connected thereto by a double seam 46. The second container 42 includes a container body 47 and an end wall 48 connected thereto by a double seam 49. The connector 4-3 includes an annular wall 50, a locking rib 51 formed on the annular wall and protruding inwardly therefrom, and an inwardly directed wall portion 52 disposed in overlying engagement with the seams 46 and 49 of the containers 41 and 42. The inwardly directed wall portion 52 has an inner surface 53 defining a central opening through which the container body 47 extends. The connector 43 further includes an integral handle, generally indicated by the numeral 55, which handle includes a grip portion 56 and a pair of legs 57 and 58. The legs 57 and 53 are of sufiicient length to space the grip portion 56 from the second container 42 so as to provide finger space therebetween.

FIGURES 6 and 7 show another form of package, generally indicated by the numeral 65, which package includes a flexible plastic connector 66 for attaching a first container 67 to a second container '72. The first container 67 includes a container body 68 having an end wall 69, with an annular head 7%) formed in the end wall 69, which end wall 69 is attached to the container body 68 by a conventional double seam 71.

The second container 72 includes a tubular container body 73 having an end wall 74 connected thereto by a double seam 75. The second container 72 is supported by the seam 75 which engages the end wall 69 between the bead 70 and the seam 71.

The connector 66 includes an annular wall 76, a tapered locking rib 77, and an inwardly directed wall portion 78 which is disposed in overlying engagement with the annular seams 71 and 75. The connector 66 also includes a dome-shaped end wal 79 preferably conforming to the shape of the container body 73 and enclosing the second container 72 between the connector 66 and the end wall 69 of the first container 67.

FIGURES 8, 9 and 10 show another form of the invention wherein a package, generally indicated by the numeral 85, includes a first container 86 and a flexible plastic connector 87. The container 86 includes a tubular container body 88 having an end wall 89 attached thereto by a conventional double seam 90.

The connector 87 is constructed in the form of an overcap, similar to the connector 66, as is shown in FIGURE 7, and includes an annular wall 91, a tapered locking rib 92 formed on the annular wall 91 and protruding inwardly therefrom, and an end wall 93 which is formed integral with the annular wall 91 and spaced from the locking rib 92. The connector 87 may be attached to the container 86 by being forced over such that the locking rib 92 embraces the double seam 90. To effect easy removal of the connector 87 from the container 86, it has been found desirable to provide a grip member 94 which is formed integral with the annular wall 91 adjacent to the locking rib 92.

An important feature of this invention is that the connector 87 is provided with an internal wall 95 which is formed integral with the end wall 93 and is spaced inwardly from the annular wall 91 and defines a com modity receiving compartment 96. The compartment 96 is preferably sealed by a thin flexible plastic disk 97 which may be heat-sealed or adhesively secured to the end surface of the internal wall 95. Thus, the end wall 87, the internal wall 95 and the disk 97 constitute a second container which is attached to the first container 86 by the annular wall 91 and locking rib 92. After the connector has been removed from the first container 86, the second container may be easily opened by rupturing the disk 97 or by pulling on the tab 98 to strip the plastic disk 97 from the internal wall 95.

While preferred forms and arrangement of parts have been shown in illustrating the invention, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in details and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claimed subject matter.

We claim:

1. A. multi-container package comprising a first container and a second container, said first container including a container body having an annular seam projecting from one end along the periphery thereof, said second container being removably connected to said first container by a flexible plastic connector, said connector including an annular wall disposed adjacent to and outwardly from said annular seam, a locking ri!b formed on said annular wall and protruding inwardly therefrom and disposed for snap engagement with said annular seam to lock said connector to said first container, said second container including an annular seam at one end thereof for supporting said second container on said first container, said connector further including an inwardly directed Wall portion dis posed in overlying engagement with the annular seams of said first and second containers.

2. A package as defined in claim 1 wherein said connector is provided with a central opening in said inwardly directed wall portion, said second container including a container body extending through said central opening.

3. A package as defined in claim 2 wherein said plastic connector further includes an integral handle comprising a grip portion and a pair of legs, said legs being of suflicient length to space said grip portion from said second container to provide finger space between said grip portion and said second container.

4. A multi-container package comprising a first container and a second container, said first container includ ing a container body having an annular seam projecting from one end along the periphery thereof, said second container being removably connected to said first container by a flexible plastic connector, said connector including an annular wall disposed adjacent to and outwardly from said annular seam, a locking rib formed on said annular wall and protruding inwardly therefrom and disposed for snap engagement with said annular seam to lock said connector to said first container, said first container including an end wall closing one end thereof, an annular bead formed in said end wall in spaced relation to said annular seam, said second container being supported on said end wall between said annular seam and said annular bead.

5. A multi-container package comprising a first container and a second container, said first container including a container body having an annular seam projecting from one end along the periphery thereof, said second container being removably connected to said first container by a flexible plastic connector, said connector including an annular wall disposed adjacent to and outwardly from said annular seam, a locking rib formed on said annular wall and protruding inwardly therefrom and disposed for snap engagement with said annular seam to lock said connector to said first container, said first container including an end wall closing one end thereof, an annular bead formed in said end wall in spaced relation to said annular seam, said second container being supported on said end wall between said annular seam and said annular bead, said connector being provided with a central opening therein, and said second container including a container body extending through said central opening.

6. A multi-container package comprising a first container and a second container, said first container including a container body having an annular seam projecting from one end along the periphery thereof, said second container being removably connected to said first container by a flexible plastic connector, said connector including an annular wall disposed adjacent to and outwardly from said annular seam, a locking rib formed on said annular wall and protruding inwardly therefrom and disposed for snap engagement with said annular seam to lock said connector to said first container, said first container including an end wall closing one end thereof, an annular bead formed in said end wall in spaced relation to said annular seam, said second container being supported on said end wall between said annular seam and said annular bead, said connector including a dome-shaped end wall enclosing said second container between said connector and the end wall of said first container.

7. A multi-container package comprising a first container and a second container, said first container including a container body having an annular seam projecting from one end along the periphery thereof, said second container being removably connected to said first container by a flexible plastic connector, said connector including an annular wall disposed adjacent to and outwardly from said annular seam, a locking rib formed on said annular wall and protruding inwardly therefrom and disposed for snap engagement with said annular seam to lock said connector to said first container, said first container including an end wall closing one end thereof, an annular bead formed in said end wall in spaced relation to said annular searn, said second container being supported on said end wall between said annular seam and said annular bead, said second container including an annular seam at one end thereof for supporting said second container on said first container, said connector further including an inwardly directed wall portion disposed in overlying engagement with the annular seams of said first and second containers.

8. A multi-container package comprising a first container and a second container, said first container including a container body having an annular seam projecting from one end along the periphery thereof, said second container being removably connected to said first container by a flexible plastic connector, said connector including an annular wall disposed adjacent to and outwardly from said annular seam, a locking rib formed on said annular wall and protruding inwardly therefrom and disposed for snap engagement with said annular seam to lock said connector to said first container, said first container including an end wall closing one end thereof, an annular bead formed in said end wall in spaced relation to said annular seam, said second container being supported on said end wall between said annular seam and said annular bead, said second container including an annular seam at one end thereof for supporting said second container on said first container, said connector further including an inwardly directed wall portion disposed in overlying engagement with the annular seams of said first and second containers, said connector being provided with a central opening therein, and said second container including a container body extending through said central opening.

9. A multi-container package comprising a first container and a second container, said first container including a container body having an annular seam projecting from one end along the periphery thereof, said second container being removalbly connected to said first container by a flexible plastic connector, said connector including an annular wall disposed adjacent to and outwardly from said annular seam, a locking ri b formed on said annular wall and protruding inwardly therefrom and disposed for snap engagement with said annular seam to lock said connector to said first container, said first container including an end wall closing one end thereof, an annular bead formed in said end wall in spaced relation to said annular seam, said second container being supported on said end wall between said annular seam and said annular bead, said second container including an annular seam at one end thereof for supporting said second container on said first container, said connector further including an inwardly directed wall portion disposed in overlying engagement with the annular seams of said first and second containers, said connector including a dome-shaped end wall enclosing said second container between said connector and the end wall of said first container.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,963,194 12/1960 Brennan et a1. 220--23.83

THERON E. COND ON, Primary Examiner.

G. T. HALL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A MULTI-CONTAINER PACKAGE COMPRISING A FIRST CONTAINER AND A SECOND CONTAINER, SAID FIRST CONTAINER INCLUDING A CONTAINER BODY HAVING AN ANNULAR SEAM PROJECTING FROM ONE END ALONG THE PERIPHERY THEREOF, SAID SECOND CONTAINER BEING REMOVABLY CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST CONTAINER BY A FLEXIBLE PLASTIC CONNECTOR, SAID CONNECTOR INCLUDING AN ANNULAR WALL DISPOSED ADJACENT TO AND OUTWARDLY FROM SAID ANNULAR SEAM, A LOCKING RIB FORMED ON SAID ANNULAR WALL AND PROTRUDING INWARDLY THEREFROM AND DISPOSED FOR SNAP ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ANNULAR SEAM TO LOCK SAID CONNECTOR TO SAID FIRST CONTAINER, SAID SECOND CONTAINER INCLUDING AN ANNULAR SEAM AT ONE END THEREOF FOR SUPPORTING SAID SECOND CONTAINER ON SAID FIRST CONTAINER, SAID CONNECTOR FURTHER INCLUDING AN INWARDLY DIRECTED WALL PORTION DISPOSED IN OVERLYING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ANNULAR SEAMS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND CONTAINERS. 